Curb block



April 15, 1930. T. FLIFLET ET AL 1,754,939

CURB BLOCK Filed Dec. 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 15, 1930- T. FLIFLET ETZAL CURB BLOCK Filed Dec. 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE THORLEIF FLIFLET AND THOMAS B. ALLARDICE, OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, NEWJERSEY CURB BLOCK Application filed- December 31, 1927. Serial No. 243,829.

Our invention relates to a curb block par ticularly adapted for use in constructing curbs to define the road or driveway and the grass plot in country estates, although, as

will be understood, the curb block constructed in accordance with our invention may be used in forming curbs wherever the same are required. The object of the invention is the provision of a block which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction and is able material, for example, terra cotta, ar-

tificial stone, or concrete and tinted withany desired shade so as to lend an artistic touch to the general scheme of the landscape. Fur- 2 thermore, each block is preferably provided with a top face or flange for defining the grass plot, and with a rib at the outer side of the top at the front of the block for providing a raised curb edge to define the roadway, and also, for example, to act as a guide for the wheels of a mower whereby the edge portion of the grass plot may be satisfactorily cut by the use of a mower alone.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective Figure 1 showing the construction of still another form of curb block,

Figure 7 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale illustrating the construction of the block shown in Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is a transverse section of the block shown in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive it will be seen that in carrying out the invention the curb block made in accordance therewith may be constructed to comprise a rectangular substantially solid body indicated at 10. In this form the block includes a front face 11, a

rear face 12, end faces 13 and 14, a top face 15 which includes a rib 16 extending upwardly from the top face at the outer or front portion of the block.

The end faces of the block have cut-away portions 17 18, 19 and 20. The cut-away portions 17 and 19 extend transversely of the block at the upper end portions thereof and the cut-away portions 18 and 20 at the front edge portions of the block. The end face 13 is preferably formed on a curve, as clearly indicated in Figure 2, while the end face 14: is preferably straight or flat, as is also clearly shown in Figure 2. This provision is made to enable the user to set the blocks in position to form the curb made therefrom in a curved line or in a straight line, it being understood that the curved end of one block abuts against the straight or fiat end of the next adjacent block, as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. It will be desirable in some instances to provide the outer curved surface of the rib 16 with a reinforcing plate 16 made of metal or any other suitable material, as indicated in Figure 4.

In order that blocks of this construction may be connected end to end to form a curb the front and rear faces may be suitably notched and recessed to receive bolts as the means for connecting the blocks and securing them together. As illustrated, the front edge portions of the block at the ends thereof are provided with notches 21 and 22 and also with recessed portions 23 and 24. In a similar manner and in oppositely disposed positions the inner face of each block is provided with notches 25 and 26 and recessed portions 27 and 28. The notch 22 in the outer faces of the block and the corresponding notch at the adjacent end of the next succeeding block are ada ted to receive a bolt 29 so that the head of t e bolt and a suitable washer, if necessary, may lie in the recessed portion 24 while a nut.and a washer, if necessary, may lie in the adjacent recess in the next succeeding block, as shown in Figure 2. In a similar mannera bolt 30 is-adapted to lie in thenotch 26 in the inner face of the block and also in the notch at the adjacent end of the 'next or cement or any other suitable material to complete the curb and make a continuous structurethereof; It will now be apparent that the rib 16 forms a raised portion at the outer'edge of the curb, which outer edge defines the roadway while the top of the block forms a flan e which defines the grass plot. The upper at portions of the blocks also provide a track for the wheels of a mower while the rib is aguide therefor in such a manner that the edge of the grass may be satisfactorily out without the use of a trimmer or any other tool except the mower.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a structure which is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive with the exception that the inner face of the block is cut away as indicated at 31 to provide a curved rear surface on the body of the block which is provided with bores 32 and 33 for the reception of reinforcing bars by which the blocks are connected toone another in forming a curb.

By reference to Figures '6, 7 and 8 it will be seen that the curb bloclrmade in accordance withour invention may be so constructed as to form a hollow body which may be filled with concrete, cement, or any other similar material whereby each block itself comprises a form in the setting orvlayingof the curb. As clearly indicated in Figure 7 this typeof ,blockrincludesa front wall 36, .a rear. wall 27,"an.u er ortop'wall 38 having arib 39, andflen walls 40 and .41.. The upperand outer ortions of theend vwall .40 are cut away a as in icated at 42: and 43, while similarlylthe 1 outerand upper portions of the end. wall'531 7 are also cut away, the cut away portions it being preferably undercut as illustrated in this figure of the drawing. The end walls are provided with holes 4-4 and l5 so that a reinforcing bar may be passed therethrough, while the bottom portions of the end walls may be notched, as indicated at at, also for the reception of a reinforcing bar. There is an opening in the rear wall at the upper portions thereof providing access to the interior 47 of the block. Also, as illustrated, the inner surface of the top wall is preferably formed at an inclination to the outer surface thereof, and, furthermore, is provided with an undercut recess 48. As in the' other form of the invention, thecurb block, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, may have the rib 39 thereof fitted with a reinforcing plate 49.

In the construction of a curb made of the blocks as shown in Figures 6, 7 and-8, the blocks are set in a trench so as to define the roadway 50 and also the grass plot 51, the surface of the road being preferably lower than the top of the rib 34, while the surface of the grass plot is preferably level with the upper face of the top wall of the block. A reinforcing bar 53 may be utilized or set in the bottom of the trench and a similar reinforcing bar passed through the holes 44 and 45 in the end walls of the blocks, and the blocks then filled with cement or concrete, as indicatediat 54. When the blocks are set the spaces betweenthe cut-awayportions 42and 43 of adjacent blocks may also be filled in with cement or concrete, asindicated at 55', to complete the structure and form a continuous curb, it being understood that this type of block is constructed with the curved surface of the end wall ofone blockagainst the flat or straight surface-of the end wall of the next block so that .the curb formed by connecting-the blocks may be made either in a straight line or a curved line.

It will also be understood that the curb block made in accordance with our invention may be constructed in other andequivalent formsand the blocks connected in other and similar manners without departing. from the nature and spirit of the invention.

We-claim as our invention:

1. A curb blockcomprising a body having a front face, a rear face, end faces, and a top face including an inner flat portion and a rib at one end side thereof extending upwardly from the front face, the front and rear faces beingnotehedand recessed to receive means for extending between and connecting the adj acent ends of similarly formed blocks placed end to end.

2. A curb. block comprising a body having a-front:face, arear face, a curved face atone end thereof, a fiat face at the other end thereof,.,and atop face including an inner flat portion and a rib at one side thereof extending upwardly from the front face.

3. A curb block comprising a body having a front face, a rear face, end faces,andatop face including a flat portion and a rib at one side thereof extending upwardly from the front face, the top portions of the said end faces being cut away and the front upper edge portions of the end faces being also cut away to provide recesses for a filling material Within the said cut away portions in similarly formed blocks when placed end to end.

Sgned by us this 16th day of December, 192 THORLEIF FLIFLET.

' THOMAS B. ALLARDIGE. 

